Cheese is one of the Netherlands' great exports and one of the simplest ways to taste the country, and this tasting gives you a quick, accessible introduction in the middle of the old city. It takes place at the Henri Willig shop at Warmoesstraat 56, one of the oldest streets in Amsterdam's centre, and it is organised by Henri Willig, a Dutch cheese producer with several shops in the city. The ticket lists a 35-minute session led by a hostess in Dutch costume, who presents the cheese and talks you through the samples. Included are five cheese samples, an introduction film, and a ten per cent discount in the shop downstairs, which is useful if you want to take some home. The live guide speaks English or Dutch, and the maximum group size is fifteen, so it is a small and friendly experience rather than a mass tasting. The ticket page shows the tasting as wheelchair accessible, and you show your mobile ticket to staff at the meeting point. It is not a meal, and additional food and personal expenses are not included, so treat it as a snack and a short cultural introduction. The ticket page lists a 5.0 rating, but from only two reviews, so judge it by the description rather than the number.
Is it worth doing
A cheese tasting is exactly the kind of small, easy activity that fills a gap in a day. It costs little, takes little time, and gives children and adults something fun to do together. If you are a serious cheese enthusiast, you might prefer a longer, more specialised tasting with pairings, but for a first introduction to Dutch cheeses it is hard to fault. The tasting is a good way to learn how young and old Gouda differ, and to understand what makes Dutch cheese distinctive.
Practical advice
Book a time slot in advance, especially at weekends and in the afternoons when visitors on foot tend to drop in. The meeting point is the shop on the Warmoesstraat, and the ticket page asks you to show your mobile ticket to staff. Free cancellation or rescheduling is available up to twenty-four hours before the visit.
The tasting does not replace lunch, so plan to eat afterwards. If you have a dairy allergy or lactose intolerance, this is not for you, and if you are vegetarian it is worth asking about the rennet used in the cheeses, as the page does not state this.
Around the Warmoesstraat
The street runs through the oldest part of the centre, and you are a short walk from the Oude Kerk, Dam Square and Centraal Station. The area includes the Red Light District, so it can be lively in the evening, and families may prefer to visit during the day.
After the tasting you can walk to the Nieuwmarkt, browse the shops on the Nieuwendijk or take a cruise from a nearby pier. Combined with a canal cruise or a food tour, a cheese tasting makes a satisfying small piece of a larger Dutch day.
What to expect
The experience
A 35-minute guided cheese tasting at a shop on the Warmoesstraat with five samples, a short film and a host in Dutch costume.
Best time
Late morning or afternoon on any day; book a time slot in advance at weekends.
How long
35 minutes.
Tips
Show your mobile ticket at the meeting point, use the 10% shop discount if you want to buy cheese and eat lunch afterwards.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone who wants a quick, fun introduction to Dutch cheese.
- Families
- A short, easy activity that children usually enjoy; the group size is capped at fifteen.
- Couples
- A light, tasty half-hour before a stroll or a canal cruise.
- Pair with
- A canal cruise, the Oude Kerk or a walk to Dam Square.
- Time needed
- Under an hour including check-in.
Good questions
Where is the tasting?+
At the Henri Willig shop, Warmoesstraat 56, in the old centre of Amsterdam.
What is included?+
Five cheese samples, an introduction film, a presentation by a hostess in Dutch costume and a ten per cent discount in the shop downstairs.
How long does it take?+
Thirty-five minutes.
How big are the groups?+
A maximum of fifteen people, with a live guide in English or Dutch.
Is it wheelchair accessible?+
The ticket page lists the tasting as wheelchair accessible.
